The tensions between the US and China are set to drag on, intensifying the risk of inflation and adding to the volatility reverberating across international markets, says a leading global asset manager.

But for those investors sitting on cash holdings, heightened volatility will present opportunities, says Vihari Ross, Magellan Asset Management's global portfolio manager.

Speaking at the Morningstar Individual Investor Conference in Sydney yesterday, Ross suggested US President Donald Trump's trade war with China had a two-fold motive.

On one hand, slapping tariffs on China was aimed at narrowing the US's $200 billion trade deficit. But on the other, the trade war is a tacit bid to counter China's global leadership ambitions set down in its Made In China 2025 policy, according to Ross.

"China want to be a world technology leader [and also want to lead] in artificial intelligence, in 3G, in space exploration - all those key strategic industries.

"And that desire by China is diametrically opposed to the US's desire to be a world leader," she said.

Echoing other speakers at the conference, Ross believes China will not go down without a fight – a struggle that will stir further market volatility.

"Our view is that China won't back down, and why would they? They’re an emerging power. The conflict between the two countries will be prolonged and cause volatility and affect US consumers."

Emma Wall, Jay Sivapalan, Vihari Ross and Peter Bull

Magellan's Vihari Ross, second from right, addresses the Morningstar conference yesterday 

Ross's remarks came as stocks in Asia tumbled across the board in afternoon trade yesterday, following a plunge in US technology stocks. However, they reversed some of their losses overnight, as Microsoft's strong earnings helped Nasdaq-listed companies rebound from the tech-heavy index's worst decline since 2011.

The heightened risk of inflation was a chief concern voiced by Ross. She cast doubt on the Trump administration's tax cut – to 25 per cent, from 35 per cent – suggesting that stimulating the economy while it was going well was a "dangerous cocktail".

Those signs of inflation are in fact beginning to emerge, she said, exacerbated by a period of low interest rates and the US Federal Reserve's $1.5 trillion quantitative easing program.

"In the US, unemployment is 3.7 per cent, which is the lowest level since 1969. Walmart has put up their wages, Amazon has increased wages – these are all signs of inflation percolating in the US economy," Ross said.

"But adding stimulus now when things are going well is quite unprecedented, and creates this dangerous cocktail that could lead to inflation breaking out and that could force the Fed's hand. It could force the Fed to move rates up higher and faster than what the market expects."

Ross said there was a risk the US Federal Reserve would have to raise rates to 5 per cent, which she estimated could have a 20 to 30 per cent impact on bond valuations.

However, on the flipside, Ross said, for investors sitting on cash, "volatility is your friend".

"We don't want to be sitting on 20 per cent cash forever, but at the same time, you'd love to redeploy that cash into assets that look attractive."

  

More from Morningstar

Better to get out too early than too late as markets stutter

Look beyond banks and mining stocks for investment growth

Make better investment decisions with Morningstar Premium | Free 4-week trial

 

Lex Hall is a Morningstar content editor, based in Sydney.

© 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither Morningstar, its affiliates, nor the content providers guarantee the data or content contained herein to be accurate, complete or timely nor will they have any liability for its use or distribution. This information is to be used for personal, non-commercial purposes only. No reproduction is permitted without the prior written consent of Morningstar. Any general advice or 'class service' have been prepared by Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), or its Authorised Representatives, and/or Morningstar Research Ltd, subsidiaries of Morningstar, Inc, without reference to your objectives, financial situation or needs. Please refer to our Financial Services Guide (FSG) for more information at www.morningstar.com.au/s/fsg.pdf. Our publications, ratings and products should be viewed as an additional investment resource, not as your sole source of information. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product's future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a licensed financial adviser. Some material is copyright and published under licence from ASX Operations Pty Ltd ACN 004 523 782 ("ASXO"). The article is current as at date of publication.